Close

Member Login

Invalid username or password.
Incorrect Login. Please try again.

Not a member?

Sign up and join a community that's passionate about exploring the world of photography.

Home > Gear

Great "8" Megapixel Shoot-Out!

Sharpshootin' 8-megapixel pieces-is one right for you?
  • By Dan Richards And Michael J. Mcnamara on December 16, 2008
Related Tags:
Enlarge

Viewing by wire

Not all electronic viewfinders (EVFs) are created equal. The Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2, with 922,000 pixels, has more than triple the pixels of its nearest competitor, which means the viewfinder image can be magnified more without appearing fuzzy. As a result, the A2's magnification ranks with that of the best SLR finders. The lowest magnification finders, by comparison, cause a tunnel-vision effect, and on-screen info is less readable. The images below show the relative magnification and detail from each camera's EVF.

Canon PowerShot Pro 1

EVF: Fixed eye-level; 235,000 pixels; diopter adjustment

Framing accuracy: 95%

LCD monitor: 2-inch TFT; 235,000 pixels; 180-degree swivel and 270-degree tilt

Konica Minolta DiMage A2

EVF: Tilting eye-level (up 90°); 922,000 pixels; diopter adjustment

Framing accuracy: 98%

LCD monitor: 1.8-inch TFT;

Nikon Coolpix 8700

EVF: Fixed eye-level; 235,000 pixels; diopter adjustment

Framing accuracy: 94%

LCD monitor: 1.8-inch TFT; 134,000 pixels; 180-degree swivel and 270-degree tilt

Olympus Camedia C-8080

EVF: Fixed eye-level; 240,000 pixels; diopter adjustment

Framing accuracy: 90%

LCD monitor: 1.8-inch TFT; 134,000 pixels; tilting (down 45, up 90 degrees).

Sony Cyber-shotDSC-F828

EVF: Fixed eye-level; 235,200 pixels; diopter adjustment

Framing accuracy: 93%

LCD monitor: 1.8-inch TFT; 134,400 pixels; articulated body (down 30, up 70 degrees)

EVF vs. DSLR

Is an 8MP digital EVF camera a better choice than a 6MP digital SLR such as the Canon EOS Digital Rebel or Nikon D70? If higher resolution is your hot button, then you can't beat the price-per-pixel of an EVF, nor can you beat its compact size, video capabilities, and all-in-one feature set.

But there are other advantages to DSLRs:

• Shutter lag is much shorter, and click-to-capture (combined AF and shutter lag) times are notably faster on most digital SLRs, so you have a greater chance of capturing the moment.

• Digital SLRs feature clearer TTL optical viewfinders that show finer details, more accurate colors, and respond instantly to lighting changes.

• Most DSLRs have depth-of-field preview. Of the tested EVFs, only the DiMage A2 has it.

• It's easier to follow action with a DSLR, since the viewfinder doesn't blank out for more than a split second between images in burst mode. All current EVF cameras freeze the first frame or stagger frames during the burst, making it nearly impossible to track a fast-moving subject.

• SLR shooters also have access to a wider variety of lenses and accessories, including dedicated flash units, battery grips, interchangeable focusing screens, and close-up attachments.

• In low light or at ISO 200-800, DSLRs are clear winners in image quality. But the wider f/2-2.8 apertures found on all of these EVFs, and the image stabilization on the DiMAGE A2, let you shoot in lower light without boosting ISO.